Dual closure interlock for vehicle luggage and foldable-top stowage-compartments



July 23, 1957 7 KUBACKA 2,800,361

DUAL CLOSURE INTERLOCK FOR VEHICLE AND FOLDABLEI-TOP STOWAGECOMPARTMENTS Filed Sept 30, 1953 2 Stunts-Sheet 1 INVENTOR y 1957 J. E. KUBACKA 2,800,361

DUAL CLOSURE INTERLOCK FOR VEHICLE LUGGAGE AND FOLDABLETOP STOWAGE-COMPARTMENTS Filed Sept. so, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Josga iii Jada BY v I I ATTORNEY I/IIIII "Jill/[III], IIIII/IIIIIIII DUAL CLOSURE INTERLOCK FOR VEHICLE LUG- GAGE AND FOLDABLE-TOP STOWAGE-COM- PARTMENTS Joseph E. Kubacka, Birmingham, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application September 30, 1953, Serial No. 383,323 3 Claims. (Cl. 29676) This invention relates to dual closures of the type that open towards each other and more particularly to an interlocking arrangement for preventing the opening of either closure while the other is open to eliminate interference therebetween.

The invention is particularly applicable to a convertible automobile construction wherein the stowage compartment for the foldable top is provided with a closure that is hinged from the same frame member as the closure of the luggage compartment. It is desirable that the spacing between the closures or deck lids be as narrow as possible so that fullest access to the compartments may be had. Reductions in the spacing eventually results in a condition wherein the adjacent edges of the deck lids collide with each other if both lids are opened. Such interference between the deck lids is undesirable as it is apt to be damaging thereto.

An object of the invention is to provide a dual closure arrangement of the forenoted or similar type with a simple means whereby damaging interference between the dual closures, as occasioned by an attempt to open both closures, is prevented by an interconnection between the closures that prevents the opening of either closure when the other closure is open.

A further object of the invention is to incorporate the interlocking arrangement in dual closures of the type that are spring loaded to open position as such closures are especially susceptible to damaging collisions therebetween.

The objects of the invention are accomplished in the embodiment shown herein by interconnecting the hinge arms of the closures with a lost motion connection that may take the form of a link pivoted to one arm and having a slot therein to receive a pin carried by the other arm.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially broken away, of the rear portion of a convertible automobile incorporating the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the broken away portion of Fig. 1 and comprises a longitudinal section through the deck lids at one of the side hinges thereof with the lids in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with the rear deck lid in open posi i and Fig. 4 is a rear elevation, partially broken away, of one of the side hinges taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, the automobile is provided with a rear compartment that includes a floor 12, side walls 14, a front wall 16, a transverse deck strip 18 between the side walls 14, two sets of vertical uprights 20 and 22 connecting the floor 12 and deck strip nited States Patent 18 and a pair of deck lids 24 and 26, each hinged at either side to the uprights 20 and 22.

The rear deck lid 26 provides access to the rearward portion of the compartment 10 for the storage of luggage therein while the forward deck lid 24 provides entry to the forward portion of the compartment 10 for the stowage of the collapsible top (not shown) of the vehicle. A plastic bag or the like may be suitably suspended in the forward portion of the compartment 10 for the reception of the top, if desired. The hinging arrangements on either side of the vehicle are alike so only one hinging arrangement is shown.

The vertical uprights 20 and 22 are joined at their upper and lower ends by brackets 28 and 30 welded therebetween. The bracket 28 provides the fixed support for the hinging of the deck lids while the bracket 30 provides the fixed reaction member for the spring biasing means of the deck lids.

A U-shaped hinge arm 32 is secured to the rear deck lid 26 by bolts 34 and pivotally mounted on the clevis bracket 28 by a cross pin 36. A similar U-shaped hinge arm 38 is secured to the front deck lid 24 by bolts 40 and is pivotally mounted on the clevis bracket 28 by a cross pin 42. The deck lids open towards each other and their adjacent edges 44 and 46 are so close to each other as to render the full opening of both deck lids at the same time impossible because of interference between their adjacent edges, as is readily apparent from a consideration of Fig. 3. The deck lids are therefore provided with a lost motion interconnection between them that prevents either deck lid from being opened when the other deck lid is in open position.

The lost motion connection comprises an arcuate link 48 having an arcuate slot 50 therein and pivotally mounted to the front deck lid hinge arm 38 by a pintle which rides in the slot 50 between the opposite ends 52. The rear deck lid hinge arm 32 carries a pin 54 thereof. The relative swing between the deck lids is determined by the length of the slot 50 in the interconnecting link 48, as is apparent from a consideration of Figs. 2 and 3. The pin 54 moves from one, end of the slot 50 to the other end of the slot when either of the lids is opened with the other lid closed and opening of one deck lid while the other deck lid is open is thus prevented.

The lost motion connection is obviously such that both lids could be partially opened at the same time and such that a forceful opening of one lid while the other lid was open would result in a closing of the other lid. Such occurrences do not happen in ordinary operation of the lids as the lids are spring biased in open position by means to be described. It should be realized, however, that the lost motion connection between the lids absolutely prevents their interference or collision with each other regardless of the manner in which the lids are operated.

The deck lids would be unbalanced dueto their hinging at one end were some form of counterweight arrangement not provided. The counterweight arrangement for the rear deck lid 26 comprises a toggle arm 56 having a clevis 58 at one end thereof that is pivotally secured to the hinge arm 32 by the pin 54. The other end of the toggle arm 56 passes through a bore 60 in the bracket 30. The bore 60 is of sufficiently greater diameter than the rod end of the toggle arm 56 so that the arm may both pivot and reciprocate therein. A compressed coil spring 62 reacts between a washer 64 on the bracket 30 and a washer 66 at the clevis end of the toggle arm 56 to urge the rear deck lid 26 to open position. The line of action of spring 62 moves away from the pivot 36 as the rear deck lid opens whereby the eifective force of the Patented July 23, 1957 urged towards open position on the unlatching thereof and fo'rthis reason'the' pivotal 'c'onne'ction54"is' soTlocated as to place the line'of action of the spring 62 rearward of the piv'ot36in both open and closed positionsof'the deck lid. Theloweren'd'of the toggle armis provided with adjustable'nuts 68 which engage the underside of the. bracket'30 to limitjthe opening movement ofi'the' lid.

Thefront deck lid 24is 'providedwit'h' a counterbalancing means similar to'that of the rear deck'lid which comprises a toggle" arm 7 0; ai spring 72 and adjustment nuts 74'. The clevis 76' of th'e front: toggle'70isv pivotally securedto"the-fronthinge arm38by a pin 78whilethe lower end of the toggle is received in the bracket 30 for slid'ahle rockingmovementby an oversize bore 8%. It is desirable that theifront'deck lid 24 be'lightly urged closed while'in, ornext'to; closedfposition' so the line of'action ofspn'ng 72 isdirected slightly rearward of the pivot 42With the deck lid' in closed position. The line of action of spring 72 crosses the pivot 42, to the front thereof; as the deck lid is openedso that'the deck lid is nrgedto' open position during the major portion of its travel.

Whilethe' preferred embodiment of the inventionhas been describedfully in'orderto explain the principles of the invention, it is to be understood that modifications of'structure'may be made by the exercise of skill in the art within the scope of the invention which is not to be regarded as'limited by the detailed description of the preferred embodiment:

I-claim:

, 11 An anti-collisiondevice for dual closures comprising 'a'closure support, a'first closure, a first hinge connecting said first-closure to said closure support for swinging movement from closed to open position, a second closure, asecond hinge connecting'said second closure to' said closure support for swinging-movement from closed to open'position, said closures being hinged at adjacent edges so-as-to swing towards each other with a sufficient range of swinging movement attheirhingesas' to collide with each other when both-are swung to full open position, and means to prevent such collisions comprising a lost motion connection between the closures including'a link pivoted to said first closure hinge, and a slidable connection'between said'link' and'said second closure hinge; said lost motion connection having a lesser range of movement than said range of movement at said hinges so as to prevent either closure from being swung open with the other closure in full open'position.

2. A deck lid construction for the rear compartment of an automobile comprising supporting structure located betweenthe front and rear" of the compartment, a' forward deck lid hinged at its rearward edge to said'supporting structure so as to render the front portion of said compartment available for the'stowage of a collapsible top, a rearward deck lid hinged at its forward edge to said supporting structure so astto render the. rear portion of the compartment accessible for the reception of luggage and the like,.and a link pivoted to one of said lids and slidably connected to the other of said lids for a predetermined range of movement.

3: A=decklidconstructiodfbr the rear compartment of an automobile" comprising supporting structure; located.

between-the front'andrear of the compartment, a' forward deck lidhingedj at its rearward edge to said supporting structure so as to render the front portion of'saidcompartment' available for' the stowage'of a collapsible top, a rearward" deck lid' hinged at its forward edge to said supporting structure was to render the rear portion of the compartment accessible for the reception of luggage and thelike'; and rneans'interconnecting said lids for preventing'the opening of either lidwhile the other is in open positionto prevent collisions therebetween comprising a link pivotedto one'of said lids and slidably connectedtotheother ofsaid lids for a predetermined range of movement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNETED" STATES PATENTS 1,300,032 Schulz Apr. 8, 1919 1,619,502 Fox --Mar. 1, 1927 2,007,873 Paulin July 9, 1935 2,341,847 Roethel Feb. 15, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS 925,083 France Mar. 24, 1947 26,416 Great Britain 1909 

